What is Maryland College Football Ranked? A Deep Look at the Terrapins‘ Standing

As an avid college football fan living in Maryland, I always get asked – what is Maryland ranked this year? As a Terrapins supporter, I like to follow their ranking status closely. While they haven‘t cracked the Top 25 lately, I want to provide an in-depth exploration of where the team stands.

A Look Back at Maryland‘s 2019 Season

Maryland had a strong 2019 season, though not quite enough to break into the final Top 25. Some highlights:

• Finished 5-3 in Big Ten play – This helped them capture the Big Ten East division title for the first time.

• Notched early wins over Syracuse and Penn State – This propelled them as high as #16 in the AP Poll.

• Narrow losses to Top 10 teams Ohio State and Penn State – Showed they could hang with elite competition.

• Three straight bowl appearances – Steady improvement under coach Mike Locksley.

• DE Javon Leake earned All-Big Ten honors – Leake rushed for 736 yards and 8 TDs.

While they couldn‘t quite maintain their early Top 20 form, the season demonstrated Maryland‘s potential. With further development, they could soon earn a Top 25 ranking.

Scouting Maryland‘s Key Games and Rivals in 2020

Maryland‘s schedule features opportunities for signature wins as well as perilous traps:

• October 17 vs Penn State – A heated rivalry game; Maryland will be seeking revenge after a 59-0 blowout loss in 2019.

• November 7 at Ohio State – Maryland almost upset the Buckeyes in 2019, losing 52-51. Can they finish the job this year?

• November 21 vs Michigan – New Michigan QB Joe Milton will be a handful, but the Terps nearly beat them two years ago.

• November 28 at Indiana – Maryland blew a late lead to lose 34-28 to the Hoosiers last year. Time to even the score.

Of course, rival Virginia always brings intensity. And avoiding letdowns against Rutgers and Purdue will be critical. If Maryland can go at least 3-3 against the five games above, a Top 25 ranking could follow.

How Does Maryland Stack Up in Recruiting and Conference Play?

Recruiting and conference performance offer insight into Maryland‘s potential:

• Maryland‘s 2020 recruiting class ranked #38 nationally by 247Sports. It included 6 four-star prospects.

• Over the last four years, Maryland‘s recruiting classes have averaged a #36 national ranking.

• In 2019, Maryland‘s recruiting class ranked higher than conference foes like Michigan State, Iowa, and Nebraska.

• Maryland has the 7th most wins of any Big Ten East team since 2015. Only OSU, PSU, UMich and MSU have more wins.

• Homegrown talent like five-star QB Josh Jackson helps Maryland compete regionally for recruits.

Though the Big Ten East is brutally tough with OSU and PSU dominant, Maryland is primed to rise up the conference ranks and national rankings. Their recruiting and on-field results show real potential.

Spotlight on Key Maryland Players to Watch

Maryland has several electrifying playmakers capable of taking over games. These are some Terps to watch in 2020:

QB Josh Jackson – The former 4-star recruit threw for 1,274 yards and 12 TDs last year before being injured. He has the arm and athleticism to flourish under new OC Scottie Montgomery.

RB Jake Funk – A powerful back with tackle-breaking ability, Funk rushed for 516 yards and 3 TDs before his 2019 season was cut short by a torn ACL. If healthy, he could be an All-Big Ten performer.

WR Dontay Demus Jr. – Explosive sophomore who led Maryland with 507 receiving yards in 2019. He gouged Syracuse for a 90-yard TD and will be Jackson‘s top target.

LB Chance Campbell – Senior transfer from Ole Miss brings SEC experience. He tallied 86 tackles in 2019 and excels in pass coverage. A leader of the defense.

With these stars aligned, Maryland has the personnel to make noise in 2020. If they live up to their potential, I expect a Top 25 ranking to follow.

Reviewing Maryland‘s Top In-State High School Champions

While Maryland‘s college team chases rankings and titles, their high schoolers are doing the same. Here‘s a look at the latest Maryland state champions:

Football

• 4A Champion: Wise High School – Led by Michigan-commit TE Marlin Klein, they finished 13-1 after winning their first state title since 1996.

• 3A Champion: Damascus High School – Won their 4th straight championship, extending their win streak to 57 games. RB Collin Schirf ran for over 2,200 yards on the year.

Girls Lacrosse

• 4A/3A Champion: Broadneck High School – The Bruins routed Dulaney 16-5 to claim their 10th state title. Senior Erin Gulden scored 6 goals in the game to cap a 107-goal season.

Maryland high school athletics produce several DI college stars. If these champions sustain success into college, we could see some Terps breaking out in future seasons too.

How Does the AP Poll Work? A Look at the Top 25 Rankings

The AP Poll is the longest running college football poll and helps determine bowl game selections and CFP bids. But how are the Top 25 teams decided each week?

• A panel of 62 sportswriters and broadcasters from across the country vote each week.

• Voters rank their Top 25 teams. The #1 team gets 25 points, #2 gets 24, etc.

• Point totals determine the rankings. High point totals equal a higher ranking.

• Tiebreakers are broken by which team had more first-place votes, or the AP‘s power ranking if needed.

The AP Poll provides the most neutral assessment of Top 25 teams. Coaches and fans will always have their biases. By canvassing sportswriters nationwide, the AP aims to create an impartial ranking.

Where will Maryland land in this year‘s final AP Poll? I‘m cautiously optimistic they can crack the Top 20 if they live up to their potential. I‘ll be eagerly awaiting the postseason rankings to see if the Terrapins can finally break their Top 25 drought.

In the meantime, I‘ll keep digging into stats, recruiting, and matchups to analyze Maryland‘s outlook. Because I know all my fellow Terps fans are asking the same question as me – what are we ranked?!